Artist P. Gouri Shankar has been elected as an eminent artist and member of the General Council of the Central Lalit Kala Akademi.

KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLOURS: P. Gouri Shankar with his works.

ONE OF the senior artists of the State, P. Gouri Shankar, has been involved in various art activities of the State. Besides numerous one-man shows and participation in exhibitions and awards, he has executed some murals in Hyderabad and his paintings are in collections in the country and abroad. He retired as professor from the College of Fine Arts, Jawaharlal Nehru University. So the recognition as eminent artist and member of the General Council of the Lalit Kala Akademi is a noteworthy honour.

Gouri Shankar's works, particularly the latest ones, are a kaleidoscope of colours - an assemblage of forms - more abstract in nature. Like most artists, nature and environment influence him to a great deal.

A look at his works may indicate a clutter - as the canvas is filled with colour and different shapes - destruction and devastation. But beneath the pictures lie the forms of nature. Over the years, he mastered the dexterous handling of the medium he works in - water colours, acrylic and oil paints.

Art historian Jagdish Mittal writes that Gouri Shankar's recent works are "executed in the technique known as "collography" in which process the plate for taking prints is made by relief and intaglio method - which is his speciality. Compared to his paintings, they are milder in their use of colour and each part fully balances the bigger composition. In them the emphasis is on beautifully textured abstract forms contained with lines of varied modulation. Some of the recent works look like aerial images of a part of the earth." One is likely to agree as these definitely look like remote sensing-images.

Awards, accolades and felicitations followed in his four-decade career. Finally he has been elected to the prime body - the Central Lalit Kala Akademi.

"I am happy at this honour bestowed on me. I would know the exact nature of the work and responsibilities once I attend the first meeting on July 28 at New Delhi. The Akademi has many sub-committees and all the General Council member-artists will be put in various committees. Generally the Akademi organises exhibitions - Triennale, seminars and workshops. I would know my role only after the meeting," he said. Whatever be the nature of the work that Gouri Shankar, the only eminent artist from Andhra Pradesh is given, that he will be in the General Council for five years is no doubt a prestigious honour bestowed on him.